By PAUL CIFONELLI
Last season’s Class B2 finalists are both still alive and on opposite sides of the bracket. Bath-Haverling will have a home game, while Bishop Kearney will need to win again on the road to set up that matchup. The semifinals will happen on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed BATH-HAVERLING RAMS (12-1-0/Livingston County Division I) vs. No. 5 seed WILLIAMSON MARAUDERS (8-4-0/Wayne County)
How they got here: Bath-Haverling routed Wayland-Cohocton 5-0 in the quarterfinals after receiving a bye. Williamson also had a bye, then defeated Attica 3-0.
Total goals scored: Bath-Haverling (59), Williamson (23)
Total goals allowed: Bath-Haverling (7), Williamson (13)
Last time they met in the postseason: These programs haven’t met in sectional play since 2002.
Trends: Bath-Haverling has rattled off 12 consecutive wins after losing its season opener. The Rams have seven shutouts in that time. Williamson won five of its past seven contests, with all the games ending in a shutout.
Names to know: Bath-Haverling – Keefer Calkins (Jr. attack 24 goals/6 assists), Zach Musso (So. attack 11 goals/1 assist), Tony Orfanidis (Sr. attack 6 goals/5 assists), DJ Smith (So. back 5 goals/3 assists), Braden Yartym (Jr. midfielder 2 goals/12 assists), AJ Brotz (Jr. goalkeeper 36 saves/0.20 goals allowed per game)
Williamson – Tyrone Walker (Jr. attack 5 goals/6 assists), John Niles (So. attack 5 goals/3 assists), Troy Ingham (Jr. attack 4 goals/2 assists), Jonathan Hayes (Jr. midfielder 3 goals/2 assists), Ayden Cristales (Sr. midfielder 1 goal/3 assists), Evan Blankenberg (Sr. back 3 assists)
Coaches: Matt Hill (Bath-Haverling), Albert Ferland (Williamson)
History 101: Bath-Haverling has seven Class B championships since 2002 and has been the runner-up five times. The Rams have two championships and one runner-up finish in Class B2. Williamson lost in the Class C1 finals last season and has at least reached the semifinals each season since 2016.
The Rams and Marauders will meet on Tuesday at 6 PM at Bath-Haverling.
No. 2 seed PENN YAN MUSTANGS (6-4-1/Finger Lakes East) vs. No. 6 seed BISHOP KEARNEY KINGS (8-4-1/Private/Parochial)
How they got here: Penn Yan toppled Wellsville 4-1 in the quarterfinals. Bishop Kearney went on the road to beat North Rose-Wolcott 4-2 in the quarters.
Total goals scored: Penn Yan (15), Bishop Kearney (50)
Total goals allowed: Penn Yan (13), Bishop Kearney (25)
Last time they met in the postseason: These teams haven’t met in the postseason since 2002.
Trends: Penn Yan is 3-1-1 in its last five games, with two of the wins and the draw coming by way of a shutout. Bishop Kearney has wins in three of its past five contests, but has a +14 goal differential over that span.
Names to know: Penn Yan – Zackary Townley (So. midfielder 4 goals/1 assist), David Reid (So. midfielder 4 goals), Mason MacKercher (Sr. goalkeeper 3 goals/64 saves/1.22 goals against average), Thomas Barden (So. goalkeeper 43 saves/1.11 goals against average)
Bishop Kearney – Evan Stevely (Sr. attack 23 goals/5 assists), Casey O’Gara (Sr. midfielder 11 goals/10 assists), Luke Tytler (So. midfielder 4 goals/7 assists), Calvin Kron (So. back 2 goals/2 assists), Matt Tierney (Sr. midfielder 2 goals/4 assists), Ezra McMullen (So. midfielder 1 goal/3 assists)
Coaches: Jason Hassos (Penn Yan), Stephen Strauss (Bishop Kearney)
History 101: Penn Yan’s last semifinal appearance was in 2013. This is the Mustangs’ third semifinal appearance since 2003. Bishop Kearney made the Class B2 championship game in 2019. The Kings won the Class C2 title in 2017 and lost to the eventual champion every season from 2014 to 2016.
Penn Yan and Bishop Kearney will go toe-to-toe on Tuesday at 6 PM at Penn Yan.
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